Skin Care Articles, Skin Care Products.

Winter Skin Secrets From 10 Of The Best

Written by beautifiles.com

Keep your skin at its best this festive season with these 10 hot tips. A buffet of the best beauty bloggers have all shared their favorite advice for taking good care of your skin as the winter weather approaches:

cold weather beauty

It’s easy to get away with a minimal skin care regimen when it’s warm out. Cold weather, freezing winds and drastic changes in temperatures call for more skin protection, and prevention against the elements. The best part of fall is the pampering! Who doesn’t love soaking in a warm, scented bubble bath on a cold day? That, hot chocolate and cute sweaters make us fans of this season.

We asked 10 beauty bloggers and editors one simple question, “How do you pamper your skin during autumn and winter?” Read on for their killer tips and tricks on keeping their skin summer-supple and their spirits buoyant during the colder months.

1. Eat for Beauty

Michelle Joni Lapidos, Social Media Director, Spa Week
“First, I start with an oxygen facial and extractions. It’s always smart to start a new season with a facial (thus Spa Week taking place every October). It’s also important to keep my newly paler skin taut with a creamy-looking finish. Blemishes show up more on pale skin than it does on a tanned face. To keep the zit count down and the glow-factor high, I keep a strict regimen of daily exfoliation, twice-daily washing, eye creams, serums and most importantly for the colder weather, moisturizer. I also eat for beauty! Sweet potatoes, salmon, eggs, olive oil, kale, asparagus and other greens are all fantastic for your complexion, so I am conscious about keeping these foods in my diet regularly.”

2. Use an Essential Oil Serum

Laura Kenney, Editor In Chief, YouBeauty.com
“Come fall, my thirty-something skin starts getting dry and flaky when the temp and humidity starts to drop. So I add an essential oil serum to my routine—in between my cleanser and moisturizer, morning and night. Essential oils are something I firmly believe help balance aging and acne-prone skin (of which, sadly, I have both!), and they give me the extra boost of moisture I need in cooler weather. They’re not greasy at all, but rather leave my skin with a healthy, effervescent sheen—exactly what I want in the throes of scaly skin season!

3. Indulge in a Luxurious Face Cream

Alexis Wolfer, Editor In Chief, TheBeautyBean.com
“As the weather starts to change, I always indulge in a luxurious face cream. While the milkweed and argan oils I use year round are hydrating enough during the warmer months, as the temperature starts dropping and the heat starts pumping out, I need something a little extra. Sure, a less expensive product would do the trick, but there is something about a rich cream in a beautiful bottle that makes me feel like I’m giving myself a little treat each time I apply it. I also always plan trips to Florida to visit my snow-bird parents for a bit of Vitamin-D, TLC and warmth … that counts too, right?!”

4. Baby Yourself!

D.Glasgow Skinner, Editor In Chief, My Life on and off the Guest List
“I happen to have the curse of unpredictable skin. It goes back and forth from dry to oily during most seasons, but winter is its most distressing time. My skin gets extremely dry and itchy during the winter. Creams, no matter how thick, do not alleviate the problem. So how do I keep my skin moisturized and supple? The answer is simple: baby oil. I have a few methods to which I apply this age old moisturizing product. I add it to my bath while taking a relaxing soak, I mix it with my exfoliator in the shower, of course I apply it in its original form and finally, I will mix it with my favorite perfumed body creme to enjoy my favorite fragrance while keeping my skin soft and fully moisturized.”

5. Weekly Mani-Pedis

Rachel Adler, Beauty Director, BeautyHigh.com
“As the weather gets colder, I make a habit of doing weekly mani/pedi’s. The manis and pedis keep my hands and feet in great shape. Each week my nail art or color choice tends to get a little more experimental as I try to distract myself from the bitter temps! By the end of the season, I’ve tried every single combination you can imagine – good or bad!”

6. Hit the Spa

Vivianne Lapointe, Editor In Chief, LIVEFASTMAG.com
“Fall season is spa season! I love the Korean spas in L.A. I can spend a full day there. Between the baths, scrubs, steam rooms, and all the other treatments, I walk out of there feeling like a new person!”

7. A Weekly Hydrating Mask

Charu Suri, Editor In Chief, BeautyStat.com
“When the weather is cooler, my skin (even though it’s oily/combination) tends to become quite dry. I moisturize more frequently, but my absolute favorite indulgence is a weekly hydrating masque, which I slather on without a care in the world. Then I leave the masque on for at least five to ten minutes while sipping a nice hot beverage (typically a fall drink, like a caramel macchiato or a nice cup of cocoa) and then rinse the masque off with cold water. It helps if the masque smells nice and fruity too, since that reminds me of summer.”

8. Sunday Night Spas at Home

Bryce Gruber, Editor In Chief, TheLuxurySpot.com
“When the leaves start to drop and my fuzzy fall coat comes out of the closet, it means it’s also time for my skin and hair to start drying out like raisins. I always devote Sunday nights to deep moisturizing on every level: I put a hot oil treatment in my hair, a collagen-infused face mask on, and hop into a long bath infused with essential oils. When I’m done, I turn on the shower, rinse off the mask and hair oi. Then I slather on a lavender body lotion before adding shea butter to my heels and popping into fuzzy socks. It’s my fave routine. Sadly there’s only time to do this late on Sunday nights!”

9. H2O + SPF

Lorna Solano, Editor-In Chief, TheFabulous Report.com
“A big portion of my day is spent running around. In the fall, my daily schedule can really take a toll on my skin; so during the colder months I have to take extra care of my skin. Luckily, after years of trial-and-error, I’ve found a simple routine that works for me. I start and end my day with a big glass of water. This really helps to keep my skin hydrated. After cleansing, I use an SPF moisturizer to prevent dry skin and to protect me from the Sun’s winter rays. I also exfoliate every four days to help my skin retain its summer glow. My fall routine while simple, is effective and fits into my lifestyle. “

10. Use Warm (Not HOT) Water

Brittany Roshelle Davis, BettyConfidential contributer and freelance beauty writer, The Write Stuff
“Winter is my biggest enemy during the holiday season. You can’t feel comfortable or confident if your skin’s itchy and flaky. To combat dryness on my face, I use an oatmeal-yogurt facemask weekly and a non-greasy lotion daily. I also only use warm water when I’m showering. Hot water will strip your skin of essential oils leaving your skin craving buckets of lotion during the day.”

Tell us: What’s your number one cold weather skin care MUST?

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Fake Tan – How to Get it Right

Written by beautifiles.com

Fake tan. When it goes right it can give you a healthy, gorgeous glow. But get it wrong, and the results can be disastrous. Follow along with these celebrity tanning tips to make that fake tan look natural:

ORANGE ALERT: Christina Aguilera (L) shows us what not to do, while Jennifer Aniston gets it right with a natural-looking glow.

If the sight of your newly bared body gives you the white frights and you plan to colour up with instant tanners for your dress-up event, consider the five rules to tan by.

1 Do not sunbathe, sunbake or do anything under the sun that involves getting “a tan”. For that to happen you will need to get “sunburnt”. Think about it.

2 Tanned limbs should be toned limbs.

3 Rough skin can be moisturised.

4 Dry skin can be sloughed off – salt and oil mixtures work.

5 Hairy limbs can be waxed, depilated, or shaved.

The downside of tanners is the agent dihydroxyacetone (DHA), but the cosmetic labs are working on its giveaway chemical smell and the drying effect it has on the skin.

Applying a tanner that will develop its full riches in an overheated, airless workplace – or worse, an overheated airless pub or restaurant – is never a good idea. Tanner try-outs are best limited to your own backyard or any other place where a fresh breeze is blowing.

Colours, fragrances and application methods of fake tanners are many, but products that give an instant glow then develop over a day or two to a soft natural colour are popular this season.

Youngblood Mineral Illuminating Body tint $89.50

A thick, creamy tint that leaves a high shine and glimmer. As it dries the red-brown sheen develops but the colour tint remains consistent. Streak free. A faint scent of caramel.

L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Salon Airbrush Self-Tanning Mist $29.99

A fine spray from the wide nozzle is easily sprayed on inner arms and backs of legs. Good for an all-over body tan. Dries quickly but takes a few applications to get the coverage right. A natural colour with golden/yellow tones. A pleasant citrus smell.

Dr LeWinns Instant Body Bronzer $39

Dries quickly leaving a high shine bronze shade. A good product for legs that are winter-white but best apply lightly. A light, pleasant fragrance. Washes off.

L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Clear Self-Tanning Gel $24.99

A new product that slicks on to the skin – feels slightly sticky at first, then dries to a natural (no glimmer) colour. Can rub off on clothing if not given time to dry completely. A tanner to apply over a few days – stopping when your reach the desired nut-brown maiden look. Give an even colour, leaves a moisturised feeling. Shake before using.

Clinique Self Sun Body Tinted Lotion $45

A bright golden, quite thick cream that soaks in rapidly but still takes time to dry quickly. The recommended time is 15 minutes. Good for all-over colour but easy to use too much. Take care around the bony parts – ankles, knees, hands, but its lack of sheen makes it a natural for ageing skin (backs of hands, chicken legs).

Dr LeWinn After Sun Glow $29.90

A bright white fruit-fragranced oily cream, this is a skin nourisher that would be beneficial all year, not just in the sunny months. Contains some DHA, so will continue to colour the skin.

Modelco Tan Airbrush In A Can Self Tanning Spray For Face And Body $44.95

It sprays unevenly and sporadically. The bulky can is awkward to hold and the tan application is streaky. The shade of the tan is orange. It has a metallic scent.

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs $29.95

Billed as “spray-on perfect legs in an instant”, it is easy to apply and the “instant” tan covers freckles and imperfections and looks natural. It goes on like foundation and doesn’t streak. The “wait 60 seconds and dress” is true. The product has a strong chemical scent. The golden colour lasts well.

Trilogy Self-Tanning Instant Bronzing Gel $34.90

A gel product, it is initially dark, and one application was enough (it lasted three days). It takes around 20 minutes to dry. It has a pleasant if initially overpowering scent.

It delivered its promise to “build a natural looking tan enhanced with shimmering mineral”. Leaves light dusting of gold glitter on the skin – maybe it’s best for an evening-wear tan?

Ego Sun Sense Bronze Shield SPF 30+ $42.50

It makes a lot of sense to include sun protection in a fake tan product. Dubbed a “light milk sunscreen”, the thin cream is the colour of milky cocoa. The tint it leaves on the skin is a pinkish tan, described by a redhead as “a good colour match with my freckles”. Takes 15 minutes to dry. As with all SPF products, it needs to be re-applied every couple of hours. Available from pharmacies.

Stockists: L’Oreal, Dr LeWinn, and Clinque products at brand counters in pharmacies and department stores. For Youngblood products, call Beauty Sense on 0800 555 630. Sally Hansen and Modelco Tan available pharmacies and Farmers.

-Fairfax NZ

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